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Epididymis epithelium

 Histology
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Male Reproductive System Diagram (porcine) System
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Testes

 (repeat instructions)

The testes are paired organs, and each one is enclosed in a fibrous white capsule of dense connective tissue(tunica albuginea) containing blood vessels (the stratum vasculare). A layer of peritoneum is tightly adhered to the tunica albuginea of each testis. The stallion has obvious smooth muscle fibers in the capsule. The connective tissue of the capsule continues into the testis on the posterior aspect as the mediastinum testis.

The dense connective tissue of the tunica albuginea is continuous with the loose areolar connective tissue of the septuli testis (septa) which extend through the parenchyma of the testis and divide it into lobules.

Testis diagram with links to histologic slides Click on the italicized labels on the diagram to display histological sections. 

Not all labels have slides available.
Each lobule is composed of several seminiferous tubules (tubuli contorti) and the surrounding connective tissue. Spermatogenesis (formation of spermatozoa) occurs in the epithelial lining of the seminiferous tubules . The interstitium is composed of loose connective tissue containing fibroblasts and Leydig cells (interstitial cells) .
Spermatozoa produced in the seminiferous epithelium move through the lumen of the tubules to the tubuli recti (straight tubes) which extend to a network of spaces in the mediastinum, the rete testis (except in the stallion). Efferent ductules (ductuli efferentes) carry the spermatozoa from the rete testis, then converge to form the ductus epididymis, a convoluted duct. The ductus epididymis straightens and becomes the ductus deferens. In domestic mammals, testes are not in a major body cavity, but are enclosed in the scrotum. Each testis is suspended at the end of a tissue called the spermatic cord which contains the ductus deferens, the blood vessels, and the nerves supplying the testis.

Click on the sperm at the right to see an animation of the sperm's path through the testis.

To see video of actual sperm movement, click here.

(Since 2 videos load, the window is slow starting, but we think the illustration is worth seeing.)

Quick checks (try these to check your understanding of the material on this page):

The testes are covered by a dense connective tissue sheath called the: 
     tunica dartos
     tunica testii
     tunica muscularis 
     tunica albuginea

Which of the following is the correct path taken by sperm after production in the seminiferous tubules of the testis?
     ductus deferens, ductus epididymis, efferent ductules, rete testis, tubuli recti
     rete testis, tubuli recti, ductus epididymis, efferent ductules, ductus deferens
     tubuli recti, rete testis, efferent ductules, ductus epididymis, ductus deferens

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This page was last updated 10/19/07 11:04:05 AM